Gemini, The Twins
May 21st - June 20th
Mode: Mutable ~ Element: Air
Ruler: Mercury ~ Mythic Archetypes: Castor & Pollux ~ Peter Pan ~ Hermes ~ The Ashvins

The constellation of Gemini is easily distinguished as it consists of two stars, side by side, seemingly of equal magnitude. Leda, the most beautiful of women, was seduced by Zeus (disguised as a swan) and she gave birth to male twins, Castor and Pollex. They took part in many of the heroic adventures of Greek mythology - Castor was renowned for his prowess at horsemanship and chariot-driving; Pollex was the most famous of boxers. The Divine Twins are not merely a feature of Greeks. They appear wherever the Indo-European languages are spoken. In India they were called the Ashvins, meaning "horseman" and were also considered powerful healers. Their connection with horses dates back to a time before recorded history and one of the most ancient of Vedic rituals was the ashvamedha, or horse sacrifice. They were the patrons of the common people, the keepers of cattle and horses, the craftsmen and trades people of the ancient Indo-European world and this connection with the skilled trades is a part of the Gemini archetype to this day, for Gemini is the sign of versatility and dexterity par excellence, and thus rules the hands in medical astrology.

It is interesting to note that Gemini types often have a love for complicated sports cars as well as the mechanical skills to take care of them. The automobile is the modern equivalent of the horse, and is generally related to the Third House of the horoscope. Gemini is associated with all kinds of transportation, but especially short journeys. Today, we think of Gemini as a sign of the intellect and of duality. In psychology, it represents the conflict between the ego and the shadow. The shadow or hidden side of our psyche, represents all the values we have repressed or refused to acknowledge as our own - even positive values. The solar force is focused upon the dual aspect of Gemini's inner nature and so the shadow is always emerging into the light of awareness. This accounts for Gemini's reputation of duality and its characteristics of changeability, inconsistency, and treachery. The third sign of the zodiac, it symbolizes the realm of mental and social relationships.